Button sewing attachment for sewing machines



April 24, 1951 MOSBERG 2,549,920

BUTTON SEWING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 5, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 24, 1951 A. MOSBERG 2,549,920

BUTTDN SEWING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 5, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 2 WW Amen/.5)

April 24, 1951 A. MOSBERG 2,549,920

BUTTON SEWING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 5, 1950 3 Sheet sSheet 5 Patented Apr. 24, 1951 BUTTON SEWING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES Abraham Mosberg, New York, N. Y., assignor of thirty per cent to David Fischbein, twenty per cent to Max Kaufman, and twenty per cent to Alex Fuchs, all of New York, N. Y.

Application May 5, 1950, Serial No. 160,367

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved button-sewing attachment for sewing machines.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved attachment for a sewing machine, for sewing two-hole and four-hole buttons, with provision to adjust for distance between holes and with means to set the device for operation for the sewing of either kind of button of different sizes.

Another object hereof is to provide a buttonsewing attachment of the character mentioned which is simple in construction, reasonably cheap to manufacture, easy and convenient to use and eflicient in accomplishing the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Fig. 1 is a front view of a button-sewing attachment embodying the teachings of this invention. It includes a fixed frame adapted to be mounted on the presser foot bar of a sewing machine. On the bottom of the fixed frame is a movably mounted frame piece carrying an adjustable vise means for holding the button. Cams carried on the fixed frame, are given motion by a ratchet means operated by the reciprocating needle bar of the sewing machine; said cams being adapted to give the movable frame piece various required motions. These and other associated components will be fully described.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1. Here, the button vise means is omitted in order to attain clarity of illustration.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the fixed frame included in this embodiment.

Fig. 4 shows the movable frame in perspective.

Fig. 5 shows in perspective, the parts used in the assembly of the fixed and movable frames.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a cam follower used in means for shifting the movable frame so that two holes in a button carried in the vise, are alternately presented to needle axis position.

Fig. -7 shows a cam included in this device, used in means to impart additional movements to the movable frame when four hole buttons are to be sewed.

Fig. 8 shows the cam follower and associated components which cooperate with the cam shown in Fig. 7. This view shows how the parts here illustrated appear in Fig. 1, when everything in front of them is removed,

Fig. 9 shows the button vise jaws in perspective.

Fig. 10 is a bottom View of a member included in the vise mechanism and particularly used to adjust the vise to required button size. Fig. 11 is an end view of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the movable frame, showing among other things, the button visemechanism fully assembled and carried thereon.

cam 20, the cam 2| and the ratchet wheel 22, all

fixed on said shaft. Carried loose on said shaft I9, is the arm 23, whose free end is bifurcated and adapted to receive the head of the needles set screw 25 on the needle post 26 which holds the needle 21 extending downwardly. This arm 23 carries the pivoted pawl 28 whose tooth is in engagement with said ratchet wheel 22, and such engagement is maintained by the spring element 29. When the sewing machine is operated, it is evident that shaft l9 will be given intermittent rotary movement a part of a revolution at each upward movement of the needle 21.

The movable frame piece denoted generally by the numeral 30, is here shown as a plate member having the notch 3| at one end which is at needle region of the machine, and a hole or slot 32 at about central region. Also, it has the elongated slot 33 to serve as a track for element 81 of the; vise jaw adjustment member 8|; said slot 33 being in alignment with the notch 3| and hole 32 and between them, commencing from near said notch. The movable frame or plate member 30 is positioned under the fixed frame l5, and mounted to the same by means of the screw 35 passed through the arcuately bent blade spring 36,

then hole 32 and finally engaged in threaded hole 31 in the fixed frame I5, from which hole it extends upwardly to serve as a pivotal axis for the cam follower 38 which carries the roller 39- engaged in the cam 20.

Said cam follower member 38 is composed of I an L-shaped part at whose vertex is the roller 39, and at the extremity of one leg is the hole 40 for the axis pin 35. The other leg of said part has an integral bar 4| across it to make a -T.-shape therewith; said part 4| being provided i with a longitudinal slot 42. A similar slot (19- noted by the numeral 43 is provided in the movable plate 30. The cam follower 38 is associated to the movable plate 30 by means of a Screw 44 positioned through both said slots. Such screw, carrying a fixed washer 45 and a wing nut 45, has freedom of movement along the slot 43 and is releasably fixed to the cam follower 38. Upon rotation of the cam 20, the movable plate 39 will be oscillated about point 35 as an axis, in the direction of arrows at line AA. The scope of such oscillation should be the distance between the holes 41 and 48 of the button 49, and may be adjustably set by shifting the position of the screw 44, because the scope of movement of the movable plate 30, occasioned by rotation of the cam 20, is a function of the distance between the screws 35 and 44. It is evident that the operating assembly thus far described in detail, is for the sewing of two-hole buttons, with provision to adjustfor distance between holes in the button.

'It is to be noted that spring 36 is permitted longitudinal movement but no lateral movement in track means afforded by the downwardly struck parts 50 in the body of the movable plate 30, between which parts 50, said spring is positioned. In fact, it is said plate 38 which has the movement with respect to the length of said spring 36, and such is brought about by action of the cam 2!, so that the button when of the fourhole variety, shall be given an oscillatory motion equal to the distance between the holes 48 and as will be explained.

The numeral 53 denotes a bar which serves as the follower for the cam 2|. One end of this bar is bifurcated as at 53' to set on the shaft 19. This bifurcated end is thin in comparison to the remainder of the body of this bar, so that there shall be a cam-bearing surface 53" held in contact with the periphery of cam 2 I, by means of a tensed tension coil spring 54, one of whose ends is secured to said bar 53, and whose other end is fixed to the fixed frame member [5; such points of attachments being denoted by the numerals 55 and 56, respectively. The other end of bar 53 is pivotally linked at 51 to a plate 58 which is pivotally linked at 59 to the fixed frame member l5. Said plate 58, lying in vertical plane, is provided with the longitudinal slot 60, which intersects, or in one position of said plate, lies along the vertical slot 6| in the standard 62 integral with the movable plate 3!]. A shank or pin 63, having an intermediate shoulder 64, and

a threaded end 65 for the wing nut 66, is adapted v to be fixed at any desired point along slot 60, to the plate 58, so that said pin 63 extends through the slot Bl. It is evident that upon rotation of shaft I9, the action of cam 21 and spring 54, will impart an oscillatory motion to the bar 53, and hence plate 39 will move up and back in the directions of the arrows of line 3-3, a predetermined distance depending upon the distance between the axis 59 and the axis of the pin 63; said pin 63 being positioned at such point along slot 60, where the scope of movement of the plate 30 along B-B shall be the distance between holes 48 and 5| of the four-hole button 67.

To accomplish better joinder of the movable plate '30 with the fixed frame I5, and yet permitting the required movements of said plate member, I include the screw '68 carrying a suitably sized washer 69 across the bottom of said plate at slot said screw extending upwardly and in threaded engagement with the fixed frame in the 4 threaded hole H; the size of the slot 70 being large enough to permit all required movement of the plate 30.

So that the device be adaptable for the sewing of two-hole buttons or four-hole buttons, at the will of the operator, provision is made to hold the follower bar 53 in a position where it is out of the locus of movement of the cam 2|. In the embodiment shown, said bar has the notch 72 to receive the dog or pawl 73, which is releasably fixed on the stationary frame member l5 by means of the screw 14 through a longitudinal slot 15 in said pawl. When the bar 53 is shifted by hand to permit setting of the pawl l3 in notch 72, so that said bar is made fixed to the frame l5 and out of the influence of the cam 2i the device is operative only-by action of the cam 25 for the sewing of two-hole buttons. It is to be noted that in such position of the bar 53, its tines still straddle the shaft [9, so that mere disengagement from the said pawl 73, will make spring 54 to restore said bar 53 into operative contact with the cam 2|, whereupon the device becomes operative by both the cams 20 and 21, for the sewing of four-hole buttons.

The cams 20 and 2! are so designed that cam 25 will oscillate the plate 30 a few times along the direction AA while said bar 53 is at rest; such bar being at rest during two periods per revolution of the shaft [9; the arcual surfaces 2| and 2|" being of concentric circles of different radii with center at axis of the shaft I9.

The preferred button vise shown includes the pair of members It and 71, fashioned respectively with channelled jaws T6 and Ti at one of their ends, with their other ends pivotally mounted at 18 and i9 respectively, on the top surface of the movable plate member 39, and urged towards one another by the spring means 80. A plate member 8|, lies across the jaw members l6 and 17, and is provided with the slots 82 and 83 which converge away from button position. The pins 84 and 85, fixed respectively in the jaw members, extend, one through each of said slots, and are of a diameter less than the width of said slots, to permit a little movement of the jaw members so that a button set between such jaws T5 and ll will be spring gripped; the position of said plate member 5 l determining the size of button adaptable for reception between the vise jaws. Said plate member carries a stop element 86, which together with the jaws, determines button position. Also, said plate member carries a small block element 8'! which rides along the slot 33 in which it slidingly fits. Member 88, may be of a wire whose ends are secured at opposite points of the plate member BI, as at 8'9, and bent to form a handle element and a slot 91 for the screw 92 in the plate member 30. Shifting handle element to the right in Fig. 12, will cause the vise jaws to open further apart, and when shifted to the left, will bring the vise jaws closer together. Tighteningthe screw 92, will fix the position of the plate member 81.

Referring to Fig. 4, adjustment for button size may be aided by means of the graduations at 93; the positioning of the screw 44 may be aided by graduations 54 along the slot 43, and the positioning of the pin 63, may be aided by graduations 95 along the slot 6|.

When the device is in use, the cloth feeder of the sewing machine is covered by a suitable plate, not shown, so that when the presser bar I? is in its most downward position, components of the device projecting below the under surface of the plate member 30, shall clear the machine table; reliance being had on the suitably roughened or serrated surface at 96 of the undersurface of said plate member, to carry the cloth on which the button is being sewn, along with the said plate member 36, in all its movements Notch in the blade spring 36, permits said spring in its movement to clear the screw 63 and washer 69. The elation of the design of cam 2i? to needle movement, is well known in the art, and therefore needs no explanation, for same is well known in devices for sewing a two-hole button, or at most, to sew through two holes in a button. Some lateral adjustment is permissible in adapter block it; for initial setting, to insure passage of the needle 2? through the holes 41 and 48. Once the device is set for a particular button, no further adjustment is necessary for a run of similar buttons. After the button is set in the vise and in contact with the stop element 86, all sewing is automatic when the machine is let run. Experience teaches the operator the proper time for each run, per button, in accordance with the desired stitch quantity.

This invention is capable of various forms and numerous applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiment shown herein be deemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specific description herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A button sewing attachment for a sewing machine, comprising a frame member adapted to be fixedly mounted on the presser foot bar of a sewing machine, a shaft rotataby mounted on said frame mem er, a first cam and a second cam securely carried on said shaft, means for imparting uni-directional, intermittent rotary movements to said shaft, adapted to be operated by the needle bar of the machine; there being a plurality of such shaft movements during each complete revolution of said shaft, a plate member positioned under and connected to said frame member whereby said plate member is capable of being reciprocated on said frame member along a given line and across said line, a button holding means carried by the plate member, two separate cam follower means carried by the frame member, cooperating with said cams respectively to impart such respective motions to the plate member; the design of said cams being such that the first cam when rotated will impart a plurality of complete reciprocatory movements and the second cam when rotated will impart one complete reciprocatory movement to the plate member per revolution of said shaft; the first stroke of said one reciprocatory movement occurring at about the completion of a one half revolution of said shaft and the return stroke occurring at about when the said shaft has completed one revolution and manually adjustable means on the frame member to releasably hold the second cam follower means stationary; the movements of the plate member being such when both said cams act to move it, one along said line and the second cam across said line, whereby a button having four holes determining a rectangle, carried by the button holding means, will move along with the plate member so that two of said holes will alternately be at needle position during one of the periods while the second cam is at rest and the other two of said holes will alternately be at needle position during the second period while the second cam is at its second rest per revolution of shaft.

2. A button sewing attachment as defined in claim 1, wherein the plate member is provided with a slot away from needle region and along the direction said plate moves when shifted on the frame by action of the second cam and wherein the connection between said plate and frame members includes an arched blade spring, and including track means on the underside of the plate member; said blade spring being slidably positioned in said track means for movement along'same in said direction, a screw positioned through said slot in the plate member and engaging said spring and the frame member whereby saidspring is tensed and the plate member is made swingable and slidable with respect to the frame member.

3. A button sewing attachment as defined in claim 1, wherein the second cam follower means is adapted to be held stationary though the second cam continues to move; said second cam follower means having a slot and a cam-contacting surface and comprising a bar; the shaft carrying the cams, extending through said slot and supporting said bar at all times.

4. A button sewing attachment as defined in claim 3, including a separate member having an upright slot; the bar being pivotally connected to such separate member at a point to one side near the bottom of said slot and said separate member being pivotally connected to the frame member at a point at the top and'to the same side of said slot and wherein the movable plate member has an upright standard having a slot therealong; both said slots being near each other and a pin extending loosely through the slot in the said standard and manually adjustably securable at any desired point along the slot in said separate member.

ABRAHAM MOSBERG.

REFERENCES CITED Name Date Johnston Apr. 23, 1912 Number 

